Abstract

To the editor: The elegant report of Regan, Lackner, and Karpatkin (Ann Intern Med 81:462-468, 1974) of qualitative platelet defects in patients with lupus erythematosus is most interesting.

Despite the normal bleeding times of these patients, one wonders about the platelet adhesiveness. Several reports have described acquired vonWillebrand's disease in patients with lupus erythematosus and decreased platelet adhesion (1, 2).

I wish to ask Drs. Reagen, Lackner, and Karpatkin to comment on the platelet adhesion studies in their cases. I am certain that they will agree with me that platelet function defects should be studied with regard to platelet adhesion as